Pump



J. CALLING yJuly 19, 1938.

PUMP

Filed Aug. 24, 1936 3 sheets-sheet 2 July 19 1938- l' J. CALLING- 2,124,185

. IPUMP Fiied Aug. 24, 1935. 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 meines July 19, 193s PATENT oFFl-cs PUMP .una ceiling, chicago, nl., minor to memtional Harvester Company, al corporation o! New Jersey Application August 24, 1936, Serial No. 97.495

9Claiml.

This invention relates to improvements in gas moving devices. More particularly, it relates to such a device particularly adapted for air compressors or vacuum pumps.

An example o! such a device is found in the Nash Patent 1,091,529, March 31, 1914, which shows an impeller type of pump in which the spaces between the impeller blades form buckets. By rotation of the impeller theliquid is thrown outwardly from the impeller into an enlarged portion of the impeller casing, thereby producing a suction. Due to the shape of the casing the liquid moves around a smooth wall thereof and is again picked up by the impeller blades, thereby filling the buckets formed by the blades and discharging the gas therein. This type of pump has been found to have a particular utility in combination with apparatus requiring delivery of air for a predetermined length of time, as disclosed and claimed in assignee's application relating to Milk refrigeratingcabinets, which resulted in Patent No. 2,077,871, April 20, 1937. As disclosed in said application, a predetermined amount of liquid may be supplied to the impeller chamber, whereby the flow of air is stopped when the liquid has disappeared due to agitation and entrainment of the liquid by the air or gas being pumped. The present invention relates to an improvement in the4 means for supplying liquid to a pump of the liquid seal impeller type. More specifically the invention relates to such a pump in which liquid may be added after the pump is in operation without the use of valves of any type.

These objects and others which will be apparent from the description which follows are attained by a construction such as disclosed in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the assembled Dump;

Figure 2 is a substantially vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. also on the line 2-2 of the conduit plate shown in Figure 3;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the outer side oi the conduitl plate;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the front side of the conduit plate;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the open side of the main casing with the impeller shown in position and with the liquidsealing medium indicated by broken lines; and,

Figure 6 is-an elevation of the closed side of the impeller. v

The pump illustrated consists essentially of four principal elements. The main casing i is secured by brackets Ii to an electric motor I2, a

portion of whichis shown in Figure 2. A conduit plate i2 is tted over the open side of the main casing iii, being secured thereto by a plurality of cap-screws which also secure a cover plate Il in position over the outer face of the conduit plate.

-An impeller I is fixed on the motor shaft I6 for rotation therewith. Said impeller is rotatably mounted in the main casing in an impeller chamber I1. With these main elements being briefly described, their relation will be described in detail. l

The impeller I5 is provided with a hub I8, which is slidably tted onto an extension of the motor shaft I6. Said hub abuts a radial flange i9 formed on a sleeve spaced from the motor shaft. Said sleeve is provided with a conical defiector 2| at the outery end to provide a liquid throwing means. An annular member 22 is fitted on the motor shaft I6 abutting 'a stop i6 formed thereon. Said member is provided with ridges 22' for throwing liquid outwardly during rotation of the motor,

thereby preventing liquid from reaching the bearings of the motor. The annular member- 22, the sleeve 20, and the hub I8 of the impeller are secured on the motor shaft by a cap-screw 22.

From the outer end of the hub member il, a radial ilange 24 extends outwardly to connect the hub with 'a cylindrical flange 25 which forms the base for spirally arranged, circumferentially spaced impeller blades 26. At the outer ends the spaces between the impeller blades, which may be termed as pockets, are open on the radial face of the impeller. At the other end the spaces are sealed by a radial ange 21. At its periphery said flange is provided with an annular lip 28 which is utilized, as will be hereinafter described. to reduce the amount of liquid which by-passes the impeller on the inner face. n

The main casing I0 is provided, as previously stated, with an impellerchamber I1. Said chamber is substantially cylindrical at each end with the two ends spaced apart and joined by flattened side walls. A construction is thereby formed which might be termed as somewhat elliptical in shape, having a smooth inner contour, around which fluid may readily` ow with a minimum of resistance. As best shown in Figure 5, the impeller chamber is arranged with its larger dimension at an angle with respect to vertical of substantial.- ly 45 degrees.

Adjacent the motor, the casing I 0 is formed with an opening 29, through which the motor shaft extends. It will be noted that there is vno contact between the motor shaftv and the parts carried thereby with the casing or parts mounted thereon. At the end through which the motor shaft extends. the casing I is provided with a cylindrical recess in which a sealing sleeve 3| is tightly fitted. Said sleeve carries a radial flange which terminates closely adjacent. the

sleeve 20.y Any liquid which escapes around the .be hereinafter described.

It will be noted that the inner wall of the impeller chamber adjacent the impeller .lies closely adjacent the impeller and is provided with a shoulder 33, which overhangs the periphery.

of the flange 21. By this construction a minimum amount of liquid escapes past the impeller without aniactual contacting seal. The liquidwhich escapes is drawn back into the system through the drain 32. An important advantage is attained by this construction by reason of the fact that no bearing surface is provided, and, therefore, no lubrication is required. There is also an advantage in the fact that, when the impeller is running idle,-that is without a supply of liquid,there is no bearing friction present and no resulting load therefrom on the motor.

The conduit plate Il, as shown in Figures V3 and 4, is provided with an inlet conduit 3l, which terminates at its lower end in a tubular extension 35 on which a flexible hose may be fitted. Said inlet conduit communicates with two branch inlet'conduits 38 extending through the plate.

.The outlet ends of said conduits are diametrically opposite each other and are located with respect to the impeller as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. The conduits terminate at the open ends of the pockets formed by the impeller blades adjacent the bottom walls thereof, which are formed by the flange 25. As the liquidis thrown from the pockets air is drawn in through the inlet conduits 3l.

It will be noted in Figure 2 that at its point of communication with the conduit plate, the extension conduit $5 is attened and restricted in cross section. A nozzle effect is thereby obtained with an expanding stream of air. Liquid from the drain conduit, which communicates withthe inlet conduit at this point, is entrained and carried with the inlet air back into the impeller chamber.

A small drain opening 32' is formed in the conduit plate i3. Said opening forms a communication between the impeller chamber i1 and the inlet conduit Il and provides a drain for the chamber when the pump is not in operation.

For supplying liquid to the pump to initiate operation, a lling conduit l1 connecting with the lower branch inlet conduit 35 extends upwardly through the conduit plate and communicates with a filling conduit 3B formed in the casing Ill. Said conduit communicates with an enlarged'iiller neck l! covered by a cap 40. Said cap closely fits over the top of .the illling neck and is pivoted for swinging upwardly when water is supplied. g

It will be understood that suction produced by the impellerin the inlet conduits will act to maintain the cover-40 in a closed position. Such air as may be drawn in around the filler cap does not impair operation of the pump. By means of a filler arrangement of this type liquid may be added while the motor and impeller are in operation. This is one of the principal points of improvement over the pump disclosed in the applicationl previously referred to.

As the impeller rotates, liquid, which had been' previously thrown out to the venlarged ends of the impeller casing, moves around the wall thereof and is engaged by the impeller blades ,thereby filling the pockets thereof. 'I'he displacement of air brought about by this action results in the movement of air through the outlet openings 4|, which have been shown in Figure 5 in dotted lines to indicate their position, although the con- ,duit plate which carries them is not shown in this figure. 4

The outlet openings 4| communicate with` outlet conduits. leading upwardly and merging into an outlet conduit '43, which discharges at a high point in the casing into a liquid chamber 44 formed in the upper portion of the casing above the impeller chamber I1. At the high speed of an electric motor considerable agitation is produced in the impeller chamber with the'resuit that a considerable percentage o f the liquid therein` escapes with the air discharged therefrom. Mixture of air and water is discharged into the liquid chamber with a substantial percentage of the water separating therefrom. A certainv amount of the water entrained as a iine mistby .the air is discharged from the upper end oi' the water chamber through an opening communicating with a discharge conduit Il formed in the conduit plate i3. Said conduit, as best shown 'in Figure 3, extends to the lower end of the cover vplate communicating with an outlet extension 446.

Itwill be understood that, when the device, as described, is put into operation, liquid poured into the filler neck 3l passes into the impeller chamber, filling said chamber completely except'for the amount displaced-by the impeller blades at each end of the chamber. The liquid supplied in excess of this amount is forced by the impeller through the outlet conduits into the water cham-- ber Il. Said chamber is so constructed and positioned that allof the liquid therein drains to the low point at one side, which is in communication, by means of a conduit 41 formed in the conduit plate, with the inlet conduit 34. To regulate the nowlof water through said conduit. a bore 4l extending through the cover plate and into the conduit plate passes through a restricted portion of the conduit 41. A metering pin `Il is fitted in-said bore, being secured therein by a cap-screw-ll on the cover plate. Said metering pin is provided with a transverse metering opening Il which determines the rate of liquid ilow passing through the conduit I1 into the inlet Il.

In the operation of the device, water from the chamber 44 is continually returned to the impeller chamber, thereby replenishing a substantial portion oi' the amount carried through the outlet conduits. However. as an appreciable amount is carried over through the discharge conduits, the water in the chamber u is gradually depleted during operation. When the entire supply has been depleted. the amount in the impeller chamber is soon reduced until it is no longer suillcient to maintain a seal over the impeller blades and to provide for displacing air in the pockets formed by said blades. The suction is then broken at the inlet side of the device with'the result that the operation of which has been described in connec- `tion with theAdescription, a pump is provided which forces air for a predetermined length o! time. After the seal has been broken, air is no longer forced through the discharge conduit. A

particular advantage of this type .of pump for an operation of this type is that, when effective operation ofthe pump ceases. there is no friction or wear. The motor, which may be operating other parts, such as the compressor of a cooling system, may continue to run without r any appreciable load, due to the impeller, which is merely tanning the air around the impeller chamber and with no resistance due to friction of pump bearings.

It is to be understood that applicant has shown only a preferred embodiment oi' his improvements in the particular type of air moving device disclosed, and that he claims as his invention all modiiications falling within the scope oi the appended claims.-

What is claimed is:

1. An air pump comprising a casing formed with an impeller chamber, an impeller formed with ciroumferentially spaced radially projecting blades rotatably mountedin said chamber, said chamber being formed with an enlarged portion of a smooth contour adjacent one section of the impeller, an inlet conduit communicating with said chamber at the enlarged portion adjacent the inner ends of the impeller blades, a water chamber formed in the casing with its lower portion in gravity fed communication with the inlet conduit, an air outlet conduit communicating with the impeller chamber adjacent the impeller blades in advance of the enlarged portion in the direction of rotation of the impeller and with the top oi' the water chamber, a water supply conduit extending downwardly from the top of the casing and communicating directly with the inlet conduit, and a discharge conduit communicating with the top of the waterfchamber.

2. An air pump comprising a casing formed with an impeller chamber, an impeller formed with circumferentially spaced radially projecting blades rotatably mounted in said chamber, said chamber'being formed with an enlarged portion of a smooth contour adjacent one section of the impeller, an inlet conduit communicating with said chamber at the enlarged portion adjacentthe inner ends of the impeller blades, a water chamber formed in the casing with its lower portion in gravity fed communication with the inlet conduit, means for metering the flow of water from said chamber to said conduit, an air outlet conduit communicating with the impeller chamber adjacent the impeller blades in advance of the enlarged portion in the direction of rotation of the impeller and with the top of the water chamber, a water supply conduit extending downwardly from the top of the casing and communicating directly with the inlet conduit, and a discharge conduit communicating with the top of the water chamber.

3. An air pump comprising a casing formed with an impeller chamber, an impeller formed with circumferentially spaced radially projecting bladesV rotatably mounted in said chamber, said chamber being formed with an enlarged portion 'of a smooth contour adjacent one section of the impeller, an inlet conduit communicating `with said chamber at the enlarged portion adthe inlet conduit, an air outlet conduit communieating with the impeller chamber adjacent the impeller blades in advance oi! the enlarged. portion in the direction of rotation of the impeller and with the top of the water chamber, a water supply conduit extending downwardly from the top oi the casing and communicating with the inlet conduit, a closure for said conduit tted to be maintained in closed position by suction during operation of the pump. and a discharge conduit communicating directly with the top of the water chamber.

4. An air pump comprising a casing open at one side formedv with an impeller chamber, an impeller formed with circumferentially spaced radially projecting blades rotatably mounted in said chamber, said chamber being formed with an enlarged portionof smooth contour adjacent one section of the impeller, a cover plate iitted over said casing, an inlet conduit formed in said plate communicating with said chamber at the 'enlarged portion adjacent the inner ends of the impeller blades, a water chamber formed in 'the casing with its lowerl portion in gravity fed communication with the inlet conduit, an air outlet conduit formed in the cover plate communieating with the impeller chamber adjacent the impeller blades in advance of the enlarged portion in the direction of rotation oi' the impeller and with the top of the water chamber, a water supply conduit formed in the cover plate extending downwardly from the top of the casing and communicating with the inlet conduit, and a discharge conduit formed inthe cover plate communicating with the top of the water chamber. 5. An air pump comprising acasing open at lone side formed with an impeller chamber, an

impeller formed with circumferentially spaced radially projecting blades rotatably mounted in said chamber, said chamber being formed with an enlarged portion of a smooth contour adjacent one section of the impeller, a cover plate iltted over said casing, an inlet conduit formed in said plate communicating with the said chamber at the enlarged portion adjacent the inner ends of the impeller blades, a water chamber formed in the casing with its lower portion in gravity fed communication with the inlet conduit, means carried by the cover plate for metering the ilow of water from said chamber to said conduit, an air outlet conduit formed with the cover plate communicating with the impeller chamber adjacent the impeller blades in advance oi' the enlarged portion in the direction of rotation of the impeller and with the top of the water chamber, a Water supply conduit formed in the cover plate extending downwardly from the top of the casing and communicating with the inlet conduit, and a discharge conduit formed in the cover plate communicating with the top .of the Water chamber.

6. In an air pump having a casing formed with an impeller chamber, an impeller formed with cir-y cumferentially spaced radially projecting blades rotatably mounted in said chamber, said chamber being formedwith anenlargedportion of a smooth contour adjacent one section of the impeller, an inlet conduit communicating with said chamber adjacent the inner ends of the impeller blades, said inlet being located at the enlarged portion of the impeller chamber, and an air outlet opening formed in the casing communicating therewith in advance of the enlarged portion of the chamber in the direction of rotation of the impeller and in combination therewith, a watersup- ..40 1 A tially spaced radially projecting blades rotatably ply conduit extending downwardly from the top oi' the casing .and communicating with the air inlet, whereby water may be supplied directly thereto, a water chamber formed in the casing withits lower portion-in communication with the \air inlet, said air outlet conduit communicating .with the water chamber above the normal liquid'level therein, and adischarge conduit communicating. with the water chamber above the normal liquid-level therein.

7. An air pump comprising a casing formed4 V with an impeller chamber, an impeller formed with circumierentially -spaced radially projecting blades rotatably mounted in said chamber, said chamber being formed with an enlarged portion of a smooth contour adjacent one section of lthe impeller, an inlet conduit communieating with said chamber adjacent the inner ends of the impeller blades, said inlet being located at the enlarged portion. oi the impeller chamber, an air outlet opening formed in the casing communicating therewith in'advance oi the enlarged v lthereof above the normal liquid level therein, and

a Adischarge conduit communicatingv with the water c hamber above the normal liquid level therein. 1 i i 8. In an air pump havingl `a casing formed with an impeller chamber substantially cylindrical at each end and atte'ned at the sides connecting said ends, an impeller formed with circumferenmounted in said chamber on an axis centrally thereof. said impeller being positioned between the ilattened portions of the chamber, said casing being formed with a pair oi diametrically positioned inlets communicating with said chamber adjacent the inner ends ofthe impeller blades, said inlets being located at the cylindrical endsof the impeller chamber, a pair of air, outlet openings formed in the casing communicating therewith adjacent the ilattened sides of the' chamber, and an air inlet conduit communicating with said air inletsand in combination therewith; a water supply conduit extending downwardly from .the top of the casing and communicating with the airinlets whereby water maybe supplied thereto to initiate operation, a waterchamber formed in the casing with its lower portion in communication with the air inlet conduit, said air outlet conduits communicating with the water chamber at its upper end above the normal liquid level therein, and a discharge conduit communicating with-the water chamber above the normal liquid level therein. v

` 9. An air pump comprising a casing formed with an impeller chamber substantially cylindrical at each end and ilattened at the sides connecting said ends. an impeller formed with circumferentially spaced radially projecting blades rotatably mounted in said chamber on an axis centrally thereof, said impeller being positioned between the flattened portions of the chamber, said casing being formed with'a pair o! diametrically positioned inlets communicating with said chamber adjacent theinner ends of the impeller blades, said inlets being located at the cylindrical ends of the impeller chamber, a pair of air outlet openings formed in the casing communicating therewith adjacent the flattened sides of the chamber, an air inlet conduit communicating with said air inlets, a water supply conduit extending downwardly Irom the top of the casing and communicating with the air inlets whereby 

